Guilford County woman speaks out after fighting off rabid fox

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GUILFORD COUNTY, N.C. -- While Christin Welch recovers, she is trying to comprehend what she did late Monday afternoon.

"Guess it was like instinct, so it wouldn’t attack us worse. It was natural instinct to get a hold of it somehow and don’t let it attack,” she said.

Welch was warning her Logandale Court neighbors about a Monday afternoon rabid fox attack. Welch was outside talking to one of her neighbors when the fox charged. She slapped it away. But then the rabid fox made a more aggressive attack.

"It was still going for my legs. So I reached down and grabbed it by the neck and choked it while my neighbor called 911,” she said.

Welch was trying to put the fox in a trap when it bit her finger. Eventually the fox went into the trap and Guilford County Animal Control took the fox away. Animal Control Officer Alexis Chalmers says Welch's bravery helped protect the Greensboro neighborhood.

"She pretty much saved her life and the person that got bit prior to her -- her life by containing that animal,” said Chalmers.

The fox tested positive for rabies. Welch is getting treatment for rabies exposure.

Animal Control officers say during the summer months it's not uncommon for people to run into rabid foxes, raccoons, skunks or bats. If you see an animal acting strangely, call Animal Control. If a bat gets into your home, Animal Control says don't let it out. Trap the bat in a room and call Animal Control or a pest removal company so they can capture the bat and test it for rabies.